Inspirational Weekly Parsha Insights and anecdotes of Rabbi Schwartz and his never dull family as they acclimate and absorb into their new home in Karmiel Israel, having made Aliyah- August 2010

Karmiel

Our view of the Galile

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Going Places? -Yisro 2011

Insights and Inspiration
from theHoly Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz"Your friend in Karmiel"

January 13th 2011 -Volume I, Issue 16–15th of Shvat 5771

Going Places

There’s an old joke Americans have about asking an Israeli directions. It ends off with the Israeli answering something like

“Tamshich Yashar Yashar Vi’Sham Tisha’al”.

Which means

“continue going straight and then further straight and then ask somebody else”.

I never really got the humor in that joke because if you’re lucky, in fact that is the average Israeli response to your unfortunate query. I scratch my head puzzled each time I ask directions and hear that response. Yet sure enough as I continue to keep on asking people, what do you know? Eventually I arrive at my destination.

The reason I qualify my statement with “if you’re lucky” is because the past few days I’ve tried taking a different tactic and it didn’t work. The first time was earlier this week when I was pretty confident I could handle this on my own. I called up Egged, the bus company; they told me the number of the buses I have to take to get to my destination in Ramat Shlomo. They told me where to switch buses and it sounded simple. Hop on one bus to Rechov Bar Ilan and switch buses over there to get to Ramat Shlomo. So I get on the bus, happy that I have no need to ask any Israelis for directions. I get off on my stop at Bar Ilan, another bus pulls up at the same time it says Ramat Shlomo on it, I get on and I am proud of myself. And then we start moving. Funny, I thought, after 15-20 minutes or so. This ride seems longer than what I had thought it would be. I took out my pocket GPS on my phone and it seemed even stranger. Why was this bus heading in such a strange direction? It looks like we are going to the other end of town. Hmmm… All of a sudden the bus driver announces “Last Stop Har Nof. Uh Oh. How did this happen?

I approached the driver and asked him where Ramat Shlomo was. He looked at me quite strangely and said it’s the bus going the other way. I’m on the wrong end of the line. When I pointed out to him that the sign on the front of his bus clearly says Ramat Shlomo. He responded- without apology of course- “Lama Lo Sha’alta” Why didn’t you ask”- It was my fault of course I should have asked. Silly Oleh Chadash (New immigrant).

Later this week I had to take a train. This time having learned from experience I decided to ask. So I turn to the nice soldier standing next to me and I asked him if this is the right train to Tel Aviv. He responded quite confidently that it was and he is going there himself all I have to do is follow him and we’ll get on together. Feeling better about myself, I got on the train. Sure enough 20 minutes into what should have been a 2 hour train ride. I hear once again “Last Stop- Nahariyia” Uh Oh, wrong way again. I look at my soldier friend who supposedly knew the way. He looked back at me.

“Hayinu Tzrichim Li’Shol Kodem She’Olinu-We should‘ve asked before we got on” he tells me nonchalantly. Thanks Buddy. You’re a real help. Now you see why I’m taking a tour guide course. Somebody’s got to know where to go in this country.

This week the Torah portion in its unique subtle way, shares with us a lesson that puts the asking of questions and directions in a different light. After all the great narratives of our miraculous Exodus from Egypt that we have had over the past few weeks, the pivotal moment that this was all leading up to has arrived. The Jewish people are now at Sinai. Yet before the Torah tells us the story of the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments, we are interrupted with a story of Yisro, Moshe’s father-in-law a Midianite priest who comes to visit. It seems, the Torah tells us, he has heard of all the great things that had happened and he wanted to check them out. Moshe fills him in on the details of the great miracles, which ostensibly he had heard already. And then he leaves. So why come for in the first place? (Never a good question to ask your father-In-law incidentally J)

In addition, before he leaves he notes that Moshe is sitting and answering the people’s questions day and night and he offers advice to appoint other subsidiary responders to alleviate the burden from his son-in law. Moshe acquiesces to this seemingly simple idea and implements it. A wonderful piece of Jewish history and Torah, but it begs the question. Why do we have to hear about this right now before the climax of our exciting Egypt to Sinai story? What makes this even stranger is that seemingly many commentaries note that this story actually takes place after the giving of the Torah. Yet the Torah interjects it here for a reason. Why?

The answer, one may suggest, is that the Torah is telling us that the prelude to our receiving the Torah knowing that we have to ask. We have to seek out. We need to find direction. And we should know that there is a process to receiving those answers. Yisro heard about Hashem and the great miracles of the Jewish people and he didn’t just jump on the train and move on with his life. He came to ask questions from Moshe. How should this affect me? What should I do with this knowledge? What is meant for me? The Medrash tells us that Yisro’s answer was to go back to his people and teach them the ways of Hashem. The Torah then tells us that not only Yisro, but all of the Jewish people came to Moshe to ask questions. From morning to night. We are a people that were seeking. We are a people that want and need answers. We want directions and it is in that merit that we received the Torah.

As in everything here in Israel, there is always life lesson that can be learned. Yashar Yashar ViSham Tisha’al- keep going straight and than ask. There are so many areas in life that we get on the wrong buses and thing we are heading the right way. Here in Israel, you sometimes learn the hard way that it pays to ask. And then to ask again. To keep checking if the things that we do and the decisions that we are making are leading us to the places that we eventually want to get to. As true as this certainly is to get around the city it is even more so to make it through our journey of life. It is important to have the right people to consult with. Not just any solider you meet at the train station or friend that doesn’t have the life experience of navigating the challenges that life presents; but true leaders and wise individuals who have an insight and are objective. If our prelude to the Torah was that we would have questions and there will be responders, than how much more so is that true today when the challenges we face in our lives, our marriages, our jobs, our families and most importantly our spiritual goals require us to pursue the guidance we need. There’s no need to try to figure it out on your own. We just have to stop and ask before we get on the next train.

Have a great Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

**********************

The Young Israel of Karmiel would like to invite you to join us this Shabbos once again for our heavenly services, with warm and insightful Divrei Torah in English

HAR SEDOM- UNLIKE IT’S NAME MOUNT SEDOM IS AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING PLACE TO VISIT AT THE SOUTH PART OF THE THE DEAD SEA. THIS INCREDIBLE MOUNTAIN RANGE IS COMPOSED OF LAYERS OF SALT ABOUT 750 FEET HIGH. AS ONE LOOKS OUT AT PAST THE SEA FROM THE TOP YOU CAN SEE THE JORDANINACITY OF “SAFFI” ACROSS THE WATER. THIS CITY IS A FEW MILES WALK AWAY WHICH THEREFORE HAVE LED MANY TO SUGGEST IT IS THE BIBLICAL CITY OF TZOAR THAT LOT RAN AWAY TO IN ORDER TO ESCAPE THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM (AS THE TORAH SAYS HE LEFT AT DAYBREAK AND ARRIVED AT SUNRISE) IF THAT IS TRUE THAN IT WOULD PUT THE AINCINET CITY OF SODOM UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM OF THE DEAD SEA IN THA LOCATION. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DIVING AND TRYING TO FIND IT WITHOUT A GOOD PAIR OF GOGGLES THOUGH….

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About Me

Hi, thanks for popping in. I am a recent Oleh. My wife Aliza and children Shani, Yonah, Rivkah, Elka and Tully recently moved to Karmiel Israel from Seattle Washington where we used to have a little Shul in our home the West Seattle TLC (Torah Learning Center). I have been involved in Jewish educational outreach for over 15 years. Originally a Detroiter, we have been lucky enough to live in Midwood New York, Des Moines Iowa, Norfolk Virginia and Seattle. I'm just a down to earth guy who would rather talk in the front of the shul than the back so i became a Rabbi where that becomes your job. I love Jews,Stories, Israel, and chulent. Recently we opened up the Young Israel of Karmiel and look forward to greeting the many North American and Anglo Olim who will join us here in the beautiful Galil.
Please comment away I thrive on your input. Thanks!

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